The dangers of sleepy driving


Just about everyone you talk to could use a little more sleep, but do you know when you are too tired to drive? Global statistics show that fatigue is responsible for 30% of the deaths on the world’s roads. Those most at risk are those that are sleep deprived, or those who have a sleep disorder. There are also certain times during the day when people are more at risk for falling asleep. Shift workers for example are at risk for falling asleep, and coming home from work early in the morning after working all night.

When many people feel themselves becoming sleepy in the car, they will try a number of remedies, like turning the radio on and rolling open the window. These remedies are however, minimally effective. The most effective thing to do is to pull over and take a nap. Another key strategy is to have a coffee before you sleep. That way, when you wake up the caffeine will be in your system before you drive off. Moreover, talk shows are more apt to keep you up than music.

Some signals of low alertness and sleepiness are: level of steering wheel control. Those who are sleepy have more difficulty straightening the wheel. Moreover, if your eyelids sag, it means you are sleepy. Sleeping at the wheel is a huge problem, a number of accidents are caused by this, and moreover, it is more common than alcohol related accidents.